Distinguishing features

This is currently a monotypic genus. The single member is distinguished from all other members of the family by encoding a very large P1 protein (83.6 k Da) containing an AlkB domain. It is also phylogenetically distinct [{Susaimuthu et al., 2008:17933412RJOHTXSusaimuthu et al., 2008, A member of a new genus in the Potyviridae infects Rubus, Virus Res, 131, 2, 145-51}].

Virion

Morphology

Virions are flexuous filaments 800×11–15 nm in size.

Nucleic acid

Virions contain a single molecule of linear, positive sense ssRNA, about 11 kb in size.

Proteins

There is a single CP of 40.9 kDa.

Genome organization and replication

Apart from the size of the P1 coding region, the genome organization is identical to that of most monopartite viruses in the family Potyviridae (Figure 2.Potyviridae).

Antigenicity

The virus could not be detected by a universal potyvirus monoclonal antibody but there are no additional data.

Biology

Host range

The virus has been reported only from wild and cultivated blackberry (Rubus sp.) where it is often symptomless but is also a component of a complex of viruses. It is not known to cause symptoms in any herbaceous test host.

Transmission

The virus is presumed to be transmitted by an aerial vector that has not yet been identified.